# Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard (born 1947) is an author and editor of 22 books. She co-founded PAWWA or Philippine American Women Writers and Artists; and also founded PALH or Philippine American Literary House. Brainard's works include the World War II novel, When the Rainbow Goddess Wept; The Newspaper Widow; Magdalena; and Selected Short Stories by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, which won the 40th Philippine National Book Award and Cirilo Bautista Prize. She edited several anthologies including Fiction by Filipinos in America, Contemporary Fiction by Filipinos in America, and three volumes of Growing Up Filipino, young adult books used by educators.

## Biography

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard (born 1947) grew up in Cebu City, Philippines, the youngest of four children to Concepcion Cuenco Manguerra and Mariano F. Manguerra. The death of her father when she was nine prompted her to start writing, first in journals, then essays and fiction. She attended St. Theresa's College and Maryknoll College in the Philippines; and she did graduate work at UCLA.
Brainard has worked with Asian American youths for which she received a Special Recognition Award from the Los Angeles Board of Education. She has also received awards from the California State Senate, 21st District, several USIS Grants, a California Arts Council Fellowship, an Outstanding Individual Award from the City of Cebu, Philippines, Brody Arts Fund Award, a City of Los Angeles Cultural grant, and many more. The books she has written and edited have also won awards, the Philippine National Book Award, the Gintong Aklat Award and the International Gourmand Award, among others. Her work has been translated into Finnish and Turkish. As of 2024, there are forthcoming translations of her novels in Greek and Japanese.
Brainard's second novel, Magdalena inspired the playwright Jocelyn Deona de Leon to write a stage play, Gabriela's Monologue, which was produced in 2011 by the Bindlestiff Studio in San Francisco as part of Stories XII! annual production showcasing original works for the stage by Pilipino/Filipino American Artists.
Brainard's writings can be found in periodicals such as CNN,Town and Country, Zee Lifestyle Magazine, Focus Philippines, Philippine Graphic, Amerasia Journal, Bamboo Ridge among others. Her writings have been anthologized in books such as More Cebuano Than We Admit (Vibal 2022), Cherished (New World Library, 2011), Asian American Literature (Glencoe McGraw-Hill 2001), Pinay: Autobiographical Narratives by Women Writers, 1926-1998 (Ateneo 2000), On a Bed of Rice (Anchor 1995), Songs of Ourselves (Anvil 1994), Making Waves (Beacon Press 1989), and others.
The Cebuano Studies Center & National Commission for Culture and the Arts produced a documentary video about her: The Cebuana in the World: Cecilia Manguerra Brainard Writing Out of Cebu Cebuano Studies Center.

## Selected works
### Novels and short story collections (writer)

* Acapulco at Sunset and other Stories (short story collection, Anvil, 1995); (PALH/Philippine American Literary House, 2020)
* Angelica's Daughters, a Dugtungan Novel (a collaborative novel co-authored by Brainard, Cuizon, Evangelista, Montes, and Sarreal, Anvil, 2010)
* "Gokkusagi Tanricasi Agladginda" (Turkish edition of "When the Rainbow Goddess Wept" Bilge Kultur Sanat, translated by Fusun Talay, 2001)
* Magdalena (novel, Plain View Press, 2002); (University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2016); (PALH/Philippine American Literary House, 2021)
* The Newspaper Widow (novel, University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2017); (PALH/Philippine American Literary House, 2021)
* Selected Short Stories by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard (short story collection, University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2021), (PALH/Philippine American Literary House, 2021).
* Vigan and other Stories (short story collection, Anvil, 2011)
* When the Rainbow Goddess Wept (novel, Dutton, 1994), which first appeared as Song of Yvonne; (New Day Publishers, 1991) (Plume paperback, 1995); (University of Michigan Press, 1999); (University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2019)
* Woman With Horns and Other Stories (short story collection, New Day Publishers, 1988; (PALH/Philippine American Literary House, 2020)

### Short story collections (edited)

* Ala Carte Food and Fiction (Edited by Brainard and Orosa, Anvil, 2007)
* Asian and Philippine Folktales: Retellings by PAWWA, (Edited by Brainard, PALH, 2022)
* Contemporary Fiction by Filipinos in America (Anvil, 1998; PALH/Philippine American Literary House, 2021)
* Fiction by Filipinos in America (New Day, 1993); (PALH/Philippine American Literary House, 2020)
* Growing Up Filipino: Stories for Young Adults (PALH & Anvil, 2003)
* Growing Up Filipino II: More Stories for Young Adults (PALH, 2010)
* Growing Up Filipino 3: New Stories for Young Adults (University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2022; PALH/Philippine American Literary House, 2023)
* Seven Stories from Seven Sisters: A Collection of Philippine Folktales (Co-editor, PAWWA, 1992)
* The Beginning and Other Asian Folktales (Co-editor, PAWWA, 1995)

### Non-fiction collections (edited)

* Behind the Walls: Life of Convent Girls (Edited by Brainard and Orosa, Anvil, 2005)
* Finding God: True Stories of Spiritual Encounters (Edited by Brainard and Orosa, Anvil, 2009)
* Journey of 100 Years: Reflections on the Centennial of Philippine Independence (Edited by Brainard and Litton, Anvil, PAWWA, 1999)
* Magnificat: Mama Mary's Pilgrim Sites (Edited by Brainard, Anvil, 2012; PALH/Philippine American Literary House, 2024)
* Philippine Woman in America (New Day Publishers, 1991)

### Non-fiction (writer)

* Cecilia's Diary: 1962-1969 (memoir, Anvil, 2003)
* Fundamentals of Creative Writing (Anvil, 2009)
* Fundamentals of Creative Writing, Revised and Expanded Edition (PALH, 2024)
* Magical Years: Memories & Sketches (PALH, 2020)
* Out of Cebu: Essays and Personal Prose (personal essays, University of San Carlos Press, 2012)
* Philippine Woman in America (New Day Publishers, 1991)

## Awards

* Recipient 2024 Travel Grant as part of the Philippine Delegation to the Frankfurt Book Fair from the National Book Development Board (NBDB) of the Philippines
* Winner 40th National Book Award, Best Book Short Fiction English, for Selected Short Stories by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard (2023)
* Winner Cirilo Bautista Prize for Selected Short Stories by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard (2023)
* Top Hat Award from the Philippine American Business Improvement and Development (2015)
* Certificate of Recognition from the United States House of Representatives (Juan Vargas) (2015)
* Gintong Aklat Award (Golden Book Award), for Finding God: True Stories of Spiritual Encounters (coeditor) (2009)
* Gourmand Award, for Ala Carte Food & Fiction (coeditor) (2008)
* Certificate of Recognition from the Cebu Provincial Government (2006)
* Amazing Alumni Achiever Award from Maryknoll College, QC, RP (2003)
* Certificate of Recognition from the California State Senate, 21st District (Jack Scott) (2001)
* Filipinas Magazine Achievement Award for Arts and Culture (2001)
* California State Summer School for the Arts Award (2000)
* Outstanding Individual Award from the City of Cebu, Philippines (1998)
* USIS Travel Lecture Grants (1995 & 1997)
* Makati Rotarian Award (1994)
* Literature Award, Filipino Women's Network (1992)
* City of Los Angeles Certificate of Appreciation (1992)
* Brody Arts Fund Fellowship (1991)
* Special Recognition Award, Los Angeles Board of Education (1991)
* City of Los Angeles Cultural Grant (1990–91)
* California Arts Council Artists' Fellowship in Fiction (1989–90)